Chakravyuh - Preview

Chkravyuh had caught my attention the first time I saw the trailer because of the cast picked for the film. I wouldn't imagine Arjun Rampal or Esha Gupta in any cinema that was 'different' from the norm. And while I have always enjoyed the films Abhay Deol picks, somehow a policeman turned rebel isn't something I would have thought of him as. And I have always been a fan of anything that catches me off-guard.

Anyway, with content like the one this has, maybe performances a little below par might do too. Rebels/revolutionaries vs establishment with rebels fighting for their right. You instantly recollect Paan Singh Tomar and you notice the texture of the two films being similar, except of course the item number that Chakravyuh carries and the lame, chauvinist marketing that they seem to be employing including having Arjun Rampal act as if he is directing!

Yet, Chakravyuh's theatrical promo makes you want to watch the film.

Doesn't look like the songs have the same effect though. Whether the want from watching the trailer will lead us to a good film or not, we will know soon enough.

You see the Naxalites' point of view that the administration of the country cannot be bothered with the poorest of poor citizens. You understand the frustration of a handful of police officers who are pretty much rendered impotent while wanting to do the right thing. You wonder about right and wrong. A movie that has done all of this has pretty much done its job. Only thing is you wish you weren't distracted by relationships that are too shallow and a few songs including an item number!

I really would like to know if there is some research on the positive impact of an absolutely avoidable item song in a film. Especially in a film that takes itself very seriously and expects nothing less from us. Similarly, I understand the need for an emotional base to a subject so grim as the rotting roots of the political and administrative systems of India. But, why such a half-hearted one?

Adil Khan and Kabir's (Abhay Deol) friendship isn't given a base convincing enough to make us invest ourselves in their dilemmas. In fact, there seems to be no internal struggle as far the friendship is concerned, then why have it in the first place. The story could well have been told without that relationship, except for maybe the weak point it was trying to make that the situation in the naxal areas is so bad that a conscientious person would choose to be on their side over his personal relationships, in pukka Namak Haraam/Avatar style.

The same flakiness pervades the friendship between Mrs. Khan (Esha Gupta) and Kabir. It also seeps through how conveniently Kabir is accepted by the Naxal movement through the film, right to the end.

Esha Gupta in her short and dispensable role adds melodrama and over-acting. Arjun Rampal's labored attempt at showing restraint is too visible. While his stiff body language might go well with that of a hardened inspector, but yet I couldn't but wonder what depth another actor could have brought to his character. Anjali Patil on the other hand comes across as the frustrated and angered rebel that she plays. Abhay Deol as usual fits into his role with with ease. The rest of the cast is balanced by Om Puri, Manoj Bajpai and Kabir Bedi as convincing influencers on one hand and uneasy performances by the actors who play ministers, senior police officers and the businessman's son.

Fortunately though, all these things, while distractions do not take away from the balance that writer, Anjum Rajabali has maintained while presenting the arguments of the Naxalites. It can be argued that the law and administration system have been painted a thick shade of gray. But do any of the things portrayed about the corrupt system ring untrue or difficult to believe? Hardly. Similarly, the dialogue is written with a lot of thought and is key to striking the balance.

Yet, there is that feeling that creeps in the las half hour the film of having watched something halfway through. Of course, the war is still on. But I just wish that either the whole friendship angle was completely eliminated or it was given a lot more depth that would have added many layers to the film's social message.

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up,
by Anna Vetticad,
annavetticadgoes2themovies
:
...Hindi films these days tend to feature Muslim characters usually when they’re making a larger point about either secularism or terrorism or a certain way of life or all of the above, as though you and I never bump into Muslims as regular folk in our daily lives. In Chakravyuh, Adil Khan just happens to be Adil Khan. For that, among other reasons, I’d like to shake Prakash Jha’s hand. ...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Anjum Shabbir,
Bolly Spice
:
...The only downside and one which many Bollywood films suffer from, was the editing department. As far as an Indian audience is concerned, the film is the right tone and format. ...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Taran Adarsh,
Bollywood Hungama
:
...CHAKRAVYUH is not even remotely similar to the talked-about Tamil film KO [2011], nor is it an updated version of NAMAK HARAAM. Sure, the premise may sound similar to the latter, but there's more to CHAKRAVYUH than friendship gone sour....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Mayank Shekhar,
Daily Bhaskar
:
...This intellectual honesty is the film’s finest achievement. For most parts, the director ensures the audiences engage with a masala, action thriller – packed with the sound and fury of guns and bombs. This doesn’t force him to dumb down thought as well. ...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Trish Gupta,
FirstPost
:
...But then perhaps Jha’s aim is neither nuance nor surprise. What he wants to do is to set up the broad contours of the debate: to show us why vast numbers of poor people in this country have felt it necessary to take up a violent path that leads to a stand-off with the state...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Subhash K Jha,
FirstPost
:
...Would the Rs.70 wage earner be able to afford the Rs.200 required to watch this film?...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Martin D'Souza,
Glamsham.com
:
...The friendship of Arjun and Abhay and the cracks that appears for different reasons is what tears at you...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Rohit Vats,
IBN Live
:
...However, Jha’s handling of the human side of Naxalites is praiseworthy. He clearly knows the difference between a Naxal and a human who is also a Naxal. ...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Swati Deogire,
In.com
:
...Go watch 'Chakravyuh' for an engaging take on the Naxalite issue and don't be surprised if you're left wondering about a solution....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Aakash Barvalia,
MoviezADDA
:
...Arjun Rampal is a versatile actor and is known for his marvellous performance in every movie, and thus no such different could be found in this movie....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Karan Anshuman,
Mumbai Mirror
:
...Do such films need item numbers any more? Must the effectiveness of the message come at the cost of style? But then again if a Bhansali can produce a Rowdy Rathore, give me a Chakravyuh over it any day....
full review

So-So,
by Shaban Ansari,
DNA
:
...And it all ends predictably like it does in all Hindi films. ...
full review

So-So,
by Rachit Gupta,
Filmfare
:
...Manoj Bajpayee is able in his role. So are Esha Gupta, Om Puri and Anjali Patil. But the show belongs to Arjun Rampal and Abhay Deol. ...
full review

So-So,
by Nupur Barua,
fullhyd.com
:
...Jha was so caught up with trying to cram everything he knows about Cops vs. Naxals into three hours (almost), that he skipped a very basic aspect of screenplay - characterisation and interpersonal relationships...
full review

So-So,
by Divya Solgama,
Gomolo.in
:
...Arjun Rampal looks fantastic and has done a superb job, would love to see him in such roles....
full review

So-So,
by Sukanya Verma,
Rediff
:
...Similarly some unintentional comedy is provided by a puny lad playing Kabir Bedi's son as the single-most raucous, hamming presence in the entire film. ...
full review

So-So,
by Swati Rohatgi,
STARDUST
:
...Another major flaw in the film is its length. With the attention span of the audience diminshing with each passing year, making a film of 2 and a half hours is quite a gamble....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Bobby Sing,
Bobby Talks Cinema.com
:
...Following his set pattern (not really working in CHAKRAVYUH), Jha also has an deliberately added item song here which is equally weak as the other tracks composed by more than one music directors in its soundtrack....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Keyrun Rao,
Bollywood Life
:
...Prakash Jha’s political thriller is unintentionally funny and much worse than his previous film Aarakshan...
full review

Thumbs down,
by Smita,
Desi Martini
:
...Esha Gupta’s dialogue at the end will perhaps go down as the most ridiculous two words ever said in a death scene in a movie....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Ameetbhuvan,
Desi Martini
:
...Added to this the lengthy monologues of grandstanding between every actor makes the proceedings more like a Bhandarkar film....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Deepa Deosthalee,
Film Impressions
:
...It is a fertile premise for a great story, but not for commercial cinema which demands simplification and entertainment regardless of plot considerations....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Fatema H Kagalwala,
India Entertainment
:
...Prakash Jha’s filmography has largely centred on films related to social issues. In the recent times though, they have taken a template-like tone that is informed with resounding drama and distinctly Bollywoodian elements that sets it in a unique formulaic zone....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Rohit Khilnani,
india today
:
...Some parts of Chakravyuh are very well shot and intense too but that's only in patches....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Shubhra Gupta,
indian express
:
...Om Puri, as the Binayak Sen-like character has the feel of a man who has lived, and suffered, by his ideals . Manoj Bajpayee as the Naxal chief brings a just-right ‘sur’ to his sketchy part . ...
full review

Thumbs down,
by Roshni Devi,
koimoi
:
...Arjun Rampal doesn’t really fit the bill as the tough cop, neither does his bristly moustache help. Esha Gupta is more of the let down. ...
full review

Thumbs down,
by Shakti Shetty,
MiD DAY
:
...Arjun Rampal is an utter disappointment. Though he fits the bill physically, his emotional scale is grossly underwhelming. ...
full review

Thumbs down,
by Shilpa Jamkhandikar,
Reuters
:
...All the leads, including Arjun Rampal, Abhay Deol and especially Esha Gupta lumber through their roles, not once making you empathise with their characters...
full review

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Plot Summary

The naxals are fighting on behalf of the weak. But are their means to get to their end right? In the midst are caught an honest police officer Adil Shaikh (Arjun Rampal) and his friend Kabir (Abhay Deol).

What Worked

The basic plot and point the makers are trying to make

What did not

Note: This section simply lists the things that I did not like in this movie. This is not the overall impression about this movie. Please read the full review here

The sound system in the theater I watched Chakravyuh in. The voices seemed to echo in the first 10-15 minutes. And the setting during songs was such that the voice was drowned by the music.

The scene where Adil Shaikh wins the confidence of the villagers - the scene was too long and the situation over-simplified.

Music in the scene in which Kabir is running into the forest for the first time.

The disclaimer in the 'mehengai' song. Either the makers should've chosen different names or had the guts to stick to what they were implying.

Use of rain to depict overall sadness. Aren't we done with this metaphor yet?

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Lots. And some gory too.

Language: Abusive language used.

Nudity & Sexual content: One rape implied and in general talk about rape.

Comments (5)

Nice review. :)Gonna watch it this weekend. Have many expectations from it.

vinay has given this movie a Want to Watch.
vinay has posted 2 comments and has rated 2 movies. See vinay's page for more details.

Murtaza Ali

Loved your analysis of the movie though I thought you have been a bit harsh in your overall assessment.

And I agree that the friendship element was quite week. The movie indeed could have been much more brilliant had it does away with its Bollywood-like excesses and brusqueness.

Murtaza Ali has given this movie a Yay! Thumbs Up(Chakravyuh is a thought-provoking work of cinema that despite its flaws remains true to its theme).
Murtaza Ali has posted 20 comments and has rated 19 movies. See Murtaza Ali's page for more details.

@Murtaza I guess that it boils down to how much the Bollywood excesses and weak friendship bothered us.

silvan

nice review... gonna torrent the film tonight Btw the first promo was a give away and it looked like a modern version of Namak Haraam but with Prakash Jha I expected a film like Gangaajal but seems like he is following a formula of mixing his well known realistic formula with fiction and relying on action scenes and dialogue baazi....Arjun seems to be getting a lot of beating after some riveting works before and from the same director who gave him rajneeti

silvan has given this movie a So-So.
silvan has posted 33 comments and has rated 17 movies. See silvan's page for more details.